Writing Guidelines

Introductory Comments

The most important skill you can develop as a law student is your writing.

Your writing needs to be clear and persuasive.

You should tailor your writing to your audience. If you are taking one of my seminars or performing research for me, your primary audience is me. I have set out below what helps and hinders clarity and persuasiveness with me—I’ve compiled most of these guidelines based upon law student papers that I’ve graded in past years. Some of you may disagree with my rules and preferences. This will be frustrating. But keep in mind that the effectiveness of your advocacy must account for the nature of your audience—as idiosyncratic or uninformed as he, she, or they may be.

Turning singular nouns plural (using “their” in place of “his” or “her” or “his or her” or “its” (e.g., “a person needs to understand his or her limitations” as opposed to “a person needs to understand their limitations”)

Failing to proofread (misspellings, typos)

Using made up words (“alot,” “theirselves,” “irregardless”)

Ending sentences with a preposition

4. Common flubs

“affect” and “effect”

“then” and “than”

“further” and “farther”

“good” (adjective) and “well” (adverb)

“to” and “too”

5. Writing techniques

Don’t make your claim bigger than it needs to be: frame the most modest version of the argument that will accomplish your goals

On the other hand, don’t undersell your own claim

Use fewer words when you can

Use the active voice when possible

6. Writing for a supervisor (including a professor for whom you are conducting research)

Include your name and date on all documents that you compose (they are often separated from transmittal emails)